Broadband discounts, latest offers and voucher codes for October 2011

Plusnet are offering broadband for £1 a month for the first three months when customers take home phone. O2 Home Broadband are extending their popular 3 months free offer, which is available to all new customers on The All Rounder and The Works packages, for the forseeable future. Both of these products offer unlimited downloads.

Compare home broadband deals

The majority of these broadband deals require a BT landline or Virgin Media (cable) subscription. If you don't have or don't want a landline and the contract that goes with it then mobile dongle broadband may be better suited to you, this enables you to access the internet through a USB 'dongle' modem.

Provider	Price per month	Speed	Download limit	Installation costs	Contract period	Annual cost*
O2	£13.50 (or £8.50 for O2 customers)	20Mbps	20GB	free/£25.53 connection free wireless router	30 days/12 months	£102
Plusnet	£6.49	20Mbps	10GB	£25 connection free wireless router	no annual contract	£102.88
Virgin Media	£12.75 (when taken with a phone line)	10Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£114
Orange	£15 (or £10 for Orange customers when taken with a phone line)	20Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£120
Plusnet	£11.49	20Mbps	60GB	£25 connection free wireless router	no annual contract	£162.88
BT	£14	20Mbps	10GB	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£147
O2	£17.50 (or £12.50 for O2 customers)	20Mbps	unlimited	free/£25.53 connection free wireless router	30 days/12 months	£150
BE	£14.08	12Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	12 months	£168.96
Virgin Media	£20 (when taken with a phone line)	20Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£180
BT	£18	20Mbps	40GB	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£184.50
Virgin Media	£25 (when taken with a phone line)	50Mbps (the fastest in the UK!)	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£205
BE	£18.26	24Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	3/12 months	£219.12
BT	£28	20Mbps	unlimited	free connection free wireless router	18 months	£312

*Annual cost includes 12 months subscription, installation, hardware costs and current offers. All prices stated include VAT. This website is updated at least every week, when we review the latest offers on the market. We cannot guarantee that information stated on this site is correct as broadband providers frequently alter their deals. Click through to each provider using the links above to confirm their latest offer. Or click here to add UK Broadband Guide to your favorites list enabling you to check out the latest deals another time.

How much will I download?

Some of the broadband providers listed above limit the amount of data their users can download each month, by reviewing the table below you can guage how much data you are likely to download. Note if you are downloading TV shows or films off the internet then you should probably go for an unlimited package as just a one hour show can use up nearly one gigabyte (1GB) of bandwith. Fixed line landline broadband may be more suitable than mobile broadband in that case as they tend to have larger or unlimited data allowances included.

Online activity	Estimated usage (per month)
Surfing the Internet - 2 hours each day	300-350Mb
Sending 30 digital photos via e-mail	25-50Mb
Receiving 30 digital photos via e-mail	25-50Mb
Downloading 5 music tracks a week	100-150Mb
Downloading 5 two-minute video clips a week	120-150Mb
Listening to online radio for two hours a week	20-30Mb
Sending 100 emails a week (no attachments)	20-30Mb
Receiving 100 emails a week (no attachments)	20-30Mb
TOTAL	710-960Mb

Is mobile broadband slower than landline broadband?

Not necessarily. Whilst the speeds advertised may look slower than the 8MB that's become pretty standard in the home broadband market, it should be reminded that the 8MB is actually very rarely achievable as depends how far you are from the exchange etc. Recent surveys have shown that in fact the average speed achieved by an 8MB home broadband line is more like 3-4MB! Thus mobile speeds are competitive, and are expected to improve soon as technology allows.

Do I need a landline or ISP to have broadband? Not with Mobile USB 'Dongle' broadband!

Mobile broadband gives you internet access, without wires, over the air. You do not need a telephone line or a subscription to an ISP (TalkTalk/Plusnet etc), or to be in a Wi-Fi area to get online but instead by using a USB 'Dongle' Modem with your Laptop or PC/Mac you can have access to fast broadband, whether you are on the move or at home.

No more wires, no more hassles, no more waiting for a line to be installed. Just plug a USB Modem dongle into your computer and you're on the web. You can even swap your modem dongle between different computers. With Orange, O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile or 3 Mobile there is no need for a fixed line, it's your broadband - so just take it with you! Mobile broadband uses the mobile company's network so you can use your modem to get online wherever you are in the UK. These services are available on a 'Pay As You Go' no contract basis as well as 12, 18 and 24 month contract basis. Some plans come with a free modem that is even despatched with free next day delivery, so you can be online in your new flat tomorrow! The Carphone Warehouse also offer a comparison of broadband dongle deals, however unlike UK Broadband Guide they don't compare the whole of the market with an impartial review. So review the full list of dongle broadband deals.

I already have a landline, but don't want to sign a contract

And if you don't want to sign a 12 month contract with a regular broadband provider then Be offer a service on just three month's notice.

What is broadband?

Broadband is always-on, high speed Internet access. It enables you to use the phone and the Internet at the same time - without the need for an additional phone line. Broadband is a faster way of connecting your computer to the Internet – 1Mbps is about 20 times the speed of normal 'dial-up' internet. It allows you to view web pages more quickly, download large amounts of information more easily (e.g. film trailers, music) and use services that require streaming content (e.g. Internet radio). Broadband services are 'always-on', which means there's no need to dial-up to the Internet or log off once you've finished surfing. So your e-mails appear immediately without having to log on first. Many broadband services are "unlimited" so you pay a flat fee each month with no additional charges for the amount of time you spend online.

How do I get broadband?

You need a personal computer or Apple Mac
A personal computer (PC) or Mac should give access to the whole of the Internet and the majority of web sites are designed for access using PCs or Macs.

You need a broadband modem
A modem is a device that enables computers to transmit data across the Internet. Most broadband service providers include a broadband modem or "router" in their initial set-up package.

You need to be connected to the Internet e.g. by telephone or cable
Virtually every residence in the UK now has access to an internet enabled line via BT or Virgin Media (cable). Even if you don't but have mobile phone access where you are you can access the internet via a USB Dongle Modem with 3 Mobile.

You need an Internet service provider (ISP)
An ISP is a company that supplies you with access to the Internet. ISPs offer a variety of broadband packages that can include services like e-mail and web space, as well as high-speed Internet access. If you are in an ADSL-enabled exchange area (see below) and have a BT phone line, you will have a wide choice of ISPs and may be able to use a cable company too. However if you choose to connect via cable, your choice of ISP may be limited. Compare the offerings of broadband ISPs using our at-a-glance broadband comparison table. Mobile phone companies such as 3 Mobile are another option as they enable you to connect to the internet directly via USB Dongle Modems, therefore there's no wires or landline required.

Can I get broadband where I live?

ADSL ('Broadband')

ADSL/Broadband is currently available to around 99% of UK homes. You can find information about the availability of Broadband services by using the postcode checker on this link to BT’s broadband website. This will tell you whether your phone line is in an enabled exchange area. If you live in an area where an exchange has not been enabled you can express interest in receiving ADSL and once BT has received sufficient demand for the service they will enable the exchange.

Cable modem

To receive broadband via cable you need to live in a location serviced by Virgin Media, which covers around 50% of UK households. The majority of these cable networks have been upgraded to broadband. Even if you don't live in a cable area, Virgin Media can still deliver their services down a BT phone line.

How do I get wireless broadband?

By setting up a wireless network you benefit from the freedom of using your PC all around the home, and even the garden! With wireless networking the family can connect their PCs and peripheral devices, such as printers and scanners, together. It is simple to setup with no unsightly and restrictive wires. Your network is kept secure and safe from hackers with features built into most modern wireless routers.

In order to use your broadband wirelessly you will need a wireless router. This is a small box which links your broadband modem and your PC, and transmits the broadband signal using radio waves within a range designed to cover your property. Many broadband modems now come with a wireless router built in.

In order to pick up the signal your PC or laptop will also need to be wireless enabled. Many new laptops already come with 'wireless' built in, often referred to as 'Wi-Fi', '802.11b' or '802.11g'. Apple refer to their wireless technology as 'Airport'. A PC can easily be wireless enabled by buying a USB dongle or wireless network card. USB dongles are available for around a tenner from Dabs. To review a wide selection of wireless routers at a good price, with free delivery and with impartial consumer reviews, try Amazon. Or for a complete wireless broadband package BT offer wireless free on some of their packages, or you can upgrade from £25.

The benefits are clear - you'll have no more ugly wires trailing everywhere, you can take your Internet with you around the house and you can even create your own home network. Isn't it time you let wireless broadband set you free?

How do I make cheap or free calls using my computer? Find out more about low cost call services from Skype, Rebtel and Vonage.